Chester L. “Chet’ Beard, 85, was reunited with his wife, Carolyn “Tottie” Beard on Tuesday May 5, 2020.
Chet was born August 19, 1934 in Carlos, Indiana to Harry and Myra (Hunnicutt) Beard. He graduated from Huntsville High School in the spring of 1952 and in the spring of 1953, his job brought him to the Village of Warsaw, Ohio and he never left. He fell in love with the community and with Carolyn Fisher, who he married on July 1, 1955. He continued to work for the phone companies, GTE and Verizon, doing outdoor and indoor installing and changing out of entire phone systems in the area. When he retired in 1996, he was the last “combination man” in the state. He also worked for Jack Lewis Auto Sales for many years.
He served on the Village Water Board, and was a member of the Warsaw Volunteer Fire Department and Walhonding Valley Fire District, and the River View Community Park Board for over 50 years. He donated countless hours of his time to the community from maintenance to fundraisers, especially the River View Community Pool, where a plaque was dedicated in his honor during the 50th anniversary in 2019. Chet will be forever remembered for his quick wit, and loving spirit. His volunteerism to his community, and loyalty to his family were second to none.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter, Jodie Shearn, and seven siblings, Jim, Walter, Bessie, Harry, Raymond, Francis, and John. Surviving are his sons, Jeff and Tony Beard, both of Warsaw, six grandchildren, Shane (Jennifer) Shearn and Bella, Jeff (Melissa) Beard, Trudie Shearn (Zac Jones), Heather (Robert) McComber, Danielle Beard, and Brandi (Scott) Swingle, his twin sister, Esther, of Williamsburg, IN, and his sister, Charlotte Vanover of Richmond, IN, and many nieces and nephews, including two very special nieces, Wendy (Steve) Foster, and JoAnn (Sean) Cannon.
There will be an open house style opportunity to pay respects from Noon until 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 8th, at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw. Viewing will be limited to 10 people at a time during these hours, and social distancing, including the use of face coverings, will be observed. A public funeral service will be held at the large shelter in the River View Community Park at 1:00 p.m. Saturday May 9. Pastor Ron Davis will officiate. Burial will follow in Valley View Cemetery. Sound equipment will allow for spacing, and there will be several areas where the service can be listened to from your vehicle. Memorial donations are suggested to the River View Community Park, PO Box 399, or to The Walhonding Valley Firefighters Association PO Box 158 Warsaw, OH 43844. Condolences can be shared, and a memorial video will be available at fischerfuneralhome.com.